Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

The video here is horrible, but the sound is pretty good ... couldn't find one that had both. This song is as applicable today as it was back when it came out in 1974, because humans with power still seek to exert it over others for their own ends. Roger Hodgson is still in great voice, and this song still makes me weep when I think about what we're doing to ourselves.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Here's another clip by one of Australia's best prog groups, from their 2010 DVD recorded in the Netherlands. These guys have lots of elements / instruments in every song they do, and execute tight arrangements with both ease and passion. This track is from their album "Artificial" released earlier in 2010 ... enjoy!

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

I haven't featured this group before (for some reason) even though they've been a personal favorite for many years. So much prog ... so little time! There probably aren't too many prog bands from Chattanooga, Tenn., but Glass Hammer's quality makes up for it. Lead singer Susie Bogdanowicz's voice has a haunting quality, and the whole group shows exceptional tightness on their cues and harmonies. GH was first formed in 1993, and have released 16 albums since including 2016's "Valkyrie". Jon Davison (joined YES in 2012) did some background vocal work with them on various albums, before leaving for YES. This track is from their 2009 album "Three Cheers for the Broken Hearted", and was recorded live while touring it.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Typical 12 1/2 - minute prog song, with several "mood swings" throughout. Superb drumming (Marco Minneman) and bass playing (NIck Beggs) allow the rest of the group to stretch their wings and strut their stuff. Here's Wilson's own explanation of the lyrics:

“This is a story about a street musician, a busker. It was inspired by a guy who plays in my local town. He’s there every single day. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like; he’s always there, playing his acoustic guitar and singing these songs. Snow, rain, gale force wind — nothing will stop him from being in his spot.

“And the thing is, he’s terrible, absolutely rubbish. He never seems to get any better, no matter how much he plays these songs. I’m one of many people who pass him every day; he’s part of the street furniture, in a way. I suddenly started thinking, What would happen — God forbid — if he dropped dead in the middle of the street one day? Would people notice that he was no longer there?

“Then I had another thought: He’s the kind of guy who is so set in his routine that even death wouldn’t stop him. So I had this vision that he would drop dead one day, but the next day he’d be back in the same spot, playing the same songs, just like he always did. This kind of idea that somebody could be a ghost in life, as well as a ghost in death, somebody who’s completely ignored even in their lifetime — it hardly makes a difference; and death doesn’t make a difference, either; it doesn’t break the routine. That’s the story behind Luminol."

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Guitarist David Gilmour demonstrates an interesting use of a brass slide guitar tube, to get this wobbly / sustain effect long before there was an E-Bow device. This was the hallmark of much of the early material, as they experimented with everything they had to create unusual sounds for their music. From their second album (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968) this was the first album for Gilmour, as Syd Barrett's failing mental health was already making him increasingly unreliable. The title track was originally called "The Massed Gadgets of Hercules", but was soon known by this name. The piece has four parts, and "Celestial Voices" is the final one. For some reason, Gilmour deemed the piece "too archaic", and they never performed it live beyond 1972.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Another amazing instrumental from the guys, featuring an energetic drum solo from Neil Peart. This is a kickin' song to have in the CD deck while driving. After being a Rush fan for over 40-years, it still amazes me how much music this trio can produce ... especially live. This song is originally from their 1991 album "Roll the Bones" ... cool album cover:

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Two for one this week, with songs from two different eras of the band. "Mother Goose" was released as single 45-RPM record from the Aqualung album (1971). It's real fun to play, but I should warn that the chord list on Chordie is to be played with the capo on the 5th fret. If you wish to play it open (without a capo) use the Chordie transposer to take it down 5 semitones, and you're all set. Jack-a-Lyn first came out on a 1988 box set album, and was later included as a bonus tune on the CD re-release of "Broadsword and the Beast". This live clip features a total change in key, tempo, and feel at the 5:00 minute mark, with guitarist Martin Barre adding some serious crunch with the Hamer he's famous for. Awesome tunes, and I hope you enjoy them.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Tarja is the former lead singer of the metal band "Nightwish", and obviously a classically trained soprano. Paired here with Argentina's own Diego Valdez, they do a very good cover of the classic number from the famous opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I'm not a metal head, but this is pretty doggone good.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Glad you enjoyed it, CG!

Somehow, the heavier metal format "works" for this piece of music ... so dark. Unfortunately, the electronic pipe organ doesn't sound anywhere near as good as a real pipe organ. There's something about some rumbling 32-foot pipes producing sub-sonic frequencies that digital gear can't replicate. I'd love to hear this played on the massive organ in the Sydney Town Hall in Australia.

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It's great to see guitarist Andy Latimer still going strong, surviving a long battle with blood cancer (diagnosed in 2007). After lengthy treatments, a bone marrow transplant, and extended recovery, he went back on the road in 2013 with his "Retirement Sucks" tour, at a ripe young age of 65 years old. Since forming Camel in 1971, Andy's melodic and multi-instrument abilities (also plays flute, keyboards, pan pipes) made him an icon in the British prog scene, ranked by his peers among the likes of David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, and Steve Hackett. In an obvious irony, Andy has become legendary for his endurance, in much the same way as his band's namesake has. "Hopeless Anger" is from their 1991 CD "Dust & Dreams".

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This is easily one of my 5 favorite songs to play & sing. It's about some of Ian's cynical views on the pop music industry, which was one of the things which drew me to JT in the first place. The version features the late John Glascock (bass guitar) singing harmony with Ian, a perfect voice pairing which ended with John's untimely death in 1979, at only 28 years old. John death (during the recording of "Stormwatch") marked a fundamental change in JT's musical identity. This song is from JT's 1976 album "Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die", which almost has eerie prophetic overtones. The original album cover had cartoon panel stories in it, featuring a quasi-autobiographical version of Ian himself, personified in the album's main character Ray Lomas.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

That's the one thing I would wish for if I could, is the ability to perform ( sing and play ) ... it just looks like so much fun!!!

Ian was the master of so many instruments and had that unique voice - like the Ray Charles', Johnny Cash's, Dylan's, Elvis,Rod Stewart's Janis Joplin etc... that the moment you hear three notes of it you know who the singer is because it's so idiosyncratic and awesome

and lastly - I think our own Phill sounds almost exactly like Ian Anderson when he sings

Thanks for perking up my Wednesday TF !!!

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

This is the title track from Marillion's 1997 studio album, which was the first of three to be released in three sequential years. The live performance is at their "Marillion Weekend Convention" in Holland. The song is autobiographical of singer Steve Hogarth's life, and features several amazing guitar solos from Steve Rothery, as well as Hogarth's passionate vocal performance.

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Trawick wrote:

These guys can still play! More power to them. I always thought Camel was way underrated, even though I hate that term.

Yeah, it's an odd name, for sure. Apparently, founding member Peter Bardens (keyboards) came up with the name, but no one in the group really knows why. He may have been thinking about a camel's endurance, or might have just been looking at his cigarette pack at the time ... who knows?

One of my favorite weird band names is "Atomic Rooster", of which drummer Carl Palmer was a founding member in 1969.

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Haven't had any GG up for quite a while, but always enjoy the complexity of their music, and their infectious enthusiasm playing it. Drummer John Weathers and bassist Ray Shulman get awards for their crazy facial expressions. The BBC used to run these "Sight & Sound" concerts on TV, and many of these productions have later made it to DVD. The S&S series ran from 1977 to 1983, and meshed live performance with near-studio-quality recording. Many made-for-TV performances relied on lip-synching to mix a live feel with quality audio, but this series set a new standard with their approach. Producers Frank Miller and Sam Mitchell wrapped the series up in April 1983, and many of the episodes went into syndication for a while afterwards.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

TF

that is wild music - what a great funky beat.It seemed like each musician was truly adding his own unique component and some how it all blended together for a fantastic sound.I would imagine front row at concert with them was an absolutely phenomenal experience. Play that funky music .... !!

Thanks or sharingJIm

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

So how does a group from Chattanooga, Tennessee make to the stage of the Veruna Prog Festival? Play incredible music like this, that's how. Founded in 1992 by bassist Steve Babb and keyboardist Fred Schendel, the current lineup for the past 10 years or so has also featured guitarist Kamran Shikoh and singer Susie Bogdanowicz, along with drummer Aaron Raulston. They even had Jon Davison as lead vocalist (2009 - 20014) until he left to join YES, recruited by the late Chris Squire. With 14 studio albums to date, 3 live albums, and 4 live DVDs, they've clearly made a place for themselves amongst the greats of the prog genre. Don't know why they chose this name, but it works:

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

This version of YES (Howe / White / Anderson / Squire / Wakeman) as always been my favorite. Their other lineups have had great musicians, but none of them seemed able to create the instinctive cohesion of this group. The driving intro is followed by some beautiful acoustic mid section, and returns to the aggressive opening theme as it closes. Steve Howe's guitar work really shines here. "Mind Drive is from their 2-disk 1997 album "keys to Ascension" ... enjoy.